London Lea Valley Industrial Heritage Alliance

Emma Best: Please could you detail how you have financially and otherwise supported the London Lea Valley Heritage Alliance?

The Mayor: The Lea Valley has a strong history of industrial innovation, from the manufacture of the first British-built cars in Walthamstow to the first Thermos flasks in Tottenham.
My first London Borough of Culture in Waltham Forest celebrated the borough’s culture and heritage. This included an online project with Google Arts and Culture which created a history of the Lea Valley with a focus on its industrial heritage, which was authored by a member of the Lea Valley Heritage Alliance.
The London Legacy Development Corporation has also provided the Alliance with advice and in-kind support (brochure design expertise and free meeting room space).

London Lea Valley Industrial Heritage Museums

Emma Best: Please could you detail how you have financially and otherwise supported the London Lea Valley Industrial Heritage Museums?

The Mayor: The Lea Valley has a strong history of industrial innovation, from themanufacture of thefirst British-built cars in Walthamstow to the first Thermos flasks in Tottenham.
The GLA has not provided financial support to the London Lea Valley industrial heritage museums. However, myfirst London Borough of Culture in Waltham Forest celebrated theborough’sculture and heritage.This included anonline projectwith Google Arts and Culturewhichcreated a history of the Lea Valley with a focus on its industrial heritageand wasauthored by a member of the Lea Valley Heritage Alliance.
The London Legacy Development Corporation hasalsoprovided the Alliance with general advice and encouragement,anda small amount ofin-kind support, brochure designexpertiseandfreemeeting room space.The Alliance includes, and works with, the industrial heritage museums in the Lea Valley.

Impact of Housing on Child Poverty

Sem Moema: What housing related measures are you taking to address child poverty for children and their families in London?

The Mayor: High housing costs are a primary driver of poverty in London. So, tackling child poverty means making homes more affordable to those on the lowest incomes. To that end, I am using both my planning policy and my funding power to secure additional social rented homes. My Affordable Homes programmes will see 79,000 new genuinely affordable homes, including social rented homes, start over the next five years.
I will continue to urge government to invest more in social rented homes and to tackle poverty through the benefits system. Growing numbers of Londoners rely on the private rented sector because of the shortage of social rented homes. Yet the benefits available to help private renters often fall short of market rents – even for those households not subject to the Benefit Cap. The insecurity of private renting and the prevalence of poor-quality homes also adversely affect children. I’m working to improve private renting through my Better Renting Programme and by urging the government to honour its commitment to end no-fault evictions.

Impact of COVID-19 on Short-Term Lettings

Sem Moema: What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the number of short-term lettings in London? Has there been a return to pre-pandemic levels in recent months?

The Mayor: The GLA does not collect data on the number of short-term lettings in London. Instead, officers monitor the number of 'active' Airbnb listings (those with a review in the last month) using data from InsideAirbnb.com. According to this measure, the number of active listings fell sharply as a result of the pandemic, from 23,100 in October 2019 to 6,200 in October 2020. Since then the number of active listings has not increased any further and stood at 5,400 in October 2021.

Cycle Freight Facility and Storage Centre by Archway Station

Hina Bokhari: Please provide an update on the status of the cycle freight facility and storage centre near Archway station, as mentioned in the 2019 Freight and Servicing Action Plan in connection with the Healthy Streets Fund for Business in 2017 to help BIDs to reduce their delivery and servicing impact.

The Mayor: Through the Healthy Streets Fund for Business (now a historic fund), Transport for London awarded £42,000 to the Archway Town Centre Group and London Borough of Islington. This was to provide free use of a micro-consolidation centre facility and £250 worth of free deliveries as an incentive for local businesses to switch to cargo bikes for their deliveries.
As part of the project, named ‘Cleaner Deliveries Smarter Business’, 276 businesses were engaged between August 2018 and March 2020, with five using the consolidation centre and 28 businesses signing up for cargo bike deliveries. From the start of the project’s operation in January 2019 and up until August 2021, a total of 1659 deliveries covering around 2000 miles have been undertaken.
The scheme continues to operate and highlights the benefits of working together to promote zero emission deliveries.

Cycleway 9 (3)

Tony Devenish: What assessments has TfL done on C9 in terms of its impacts on congestion and traffic delays?

The Mayor: The Cycleway 9 scheme was assessed in line with Transport for London’s (TfL’s) traffic modelling standards. This included using detailed micro-simulation models to understand the journey time impacts to bus services and general traffic. Information on expected traffic impacts was included in the public consultations on the scheme in 2017 and 2019.
I am pleased to see improvements at key locations such as Hammersmith Gyratory and Chiswick High Road starting to take shape, connecting to the cycle lanes nearing completion on King Street. TfL, along with colleagues in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and Hounslow, will be monitoring how each section of the scheme performs throughout the life of the experimental traffic order to ensure that it achieves the ambition of making this hostile and traffic-dominated route safer for cyclists.

Cycleway 9 (4)

Tony Devenish: Please quantify the expected delays to buses due to Cycleway 9.

The Mayor: The expected bus journey time impacts for Cycleway 9 proposals were published by Transport for London (TfL) during the 2017 and 2019 public consultations. The data showed that some bus routes would see increased bus journey times and others would see decreases. For example, at Kew Bridge, where Cycleway 9 has already been constructed, TfL’s data shows significant bus journey time improvements, particularly on Kew Bridge Road.
Construction recently started on new experimental protected cycle lanes in Hammersmith and Chiswick. During the trials, TfL will be carefully monitoring the impacts of these changes on bus journey times.

Housing Costs: Service Charges (2)

Sem Moema: Please provide an update on the role of managing agents in the running of London’s housing stock.

The Mayor: Housing blocks inherently require management of communal spaces and shared structures that make up the building. Landlords or residents themselves may appoint agents on their behalf. I am aware that there are cases in which the service provided falls short of the quality that Londoners expect.
As Mayor, I have sought to improve the quality of services received by Londoners for their homes, including through the Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker and the new Service Charges Charter. The Checker empowers renters, supports local councils and others to use their enforcement powers, and deter private landlords and letting agents from behaving unlawfully. The Charter aims to improve satisfaction among leaseholders, particularly those in Shared Ownership, by setting out principles and practices for housing providers to apply across their homes.

Housing Costs: Service Charges (1)

Sem Moema: What steps can you take to work with leaseholders in London struggling to directly contact their freeholders to challenge costs for which they are liable?

The Mayor: Service charge increases are an important matter of concern for leaseholders. One of the key steps I have taken to support leaseholders is publishing an updated Service Charges Charter. This includes a new section providing guidance on how to challenge high costs and errors if things go wrong. Additional detail is also provided regarding principles of transparency and maintaining affordability.
Although it is not within my power to formally address challenges raised by leaseholders, I have ensured that the Charter requires providers to clearly describe the process that leaseholders should follow to formally challenge or complain about their service charges, and that providers should rectify errors swiftly. The Charter’s webpage also includes references to additional resources on seeking redress.
Finally, I have introduced additional Key Information Documents which GLA investment partners must now provide to prospective shared owners. This includes providing contact details for the freeholder where this is not the landlord themselves.

London’s Police Stations (1)

Caroline Pidgeon: Your draft Police and Crime Plan (2021-25) emphasises the importance of neighbourhood policing and ensuring the police are embedded in local communities. Will you commit to, at the very least, ensuring London’s remaining police stations and front counters, in places such as Wimbledon, remain open?

The Mayor: The difficult decision to sell any police station had to be made in order to protect officer numbers as much as possible and to prioritise tackling violence. It is right that the frontline is being prioritised over buildings that are no longer needed.
With respect to the location of neighbourhood officers I can confirm that Dedicated Ward Officers are located at sites which allow them to travel to their ward within a 20-minute journey time.
Emergency response and patrols usually only use the response base at the beginning and the end of their shift, and normally respond to incidents either from the location of the previous incident they attended or while patrolling in a directed patrol zone.
I am happy to continue to commit to our Public Access Strategy pledge to there being a 24/7 front counter in every borough in London.

Misfuelling of Met Vehicles

Caroline Pidgeon: What has been the cost of repairs to Met vehicles that have been misfuelled and how many incidents of misfuelling have there been since 2015? Please break down the incidents and the cost for each individual year.

The Mayor: The total number of misfuelling incidents and cost of repairs for the financial years from 2015/16 to present are shown below.
Financial Year
Quantity
Total annual cost
2015/16
64
£ 20,266.26
2016/17
49
£ 17,590.00
2017/18
47
£ 15,668.25
2018/19
31
£ 11,893.39
2019/20
17
£ 6,395.31
2020/21
28
£ 13,121.12
2021/22 (to date)
15
£ 5,940.63

Housing Costs: Council Tax

Sem Moema: What proportion of Londoners are in more than two months arrears with their council tax?

The Mayor: The GLA does not hold this data. However, the 2020/21 annual report of Debt Free London found that 34 per cent of their network's clients had problem debt as a result of Council Tax arrears, the second most common problem after rent arrears. Citizens Advice also report in their Advice Trends data a growing number of clients seeking advice for debts related to Council Tax arrears over the last year.

PRISM 2.0

Sakina Sheikh: Given the PRISM 2.0 app has been out for over a year, how successful has it been to date? What further steps can you take to improve on this?

The Mayor: In 2019 I launched the PRiSM design app and last year I introduced a new version (‘PRiSM 2.0’) with a range of modifications and enhancements. At the time, my team – alongside Bryden Wood Technology and Cast Consultancy – provided training to London boroughs to support its successful rollout. PRiSM does not capture data about levels of use, although my team is aware of several London boroughs that are using it and have received positive feedback from partners.
The objective of the GLA funding contribution was to establish PRiSM. Ongoing management of PRiSM, including any future improvements, is led by Bryden Wood. My team continues to engage with the Bryden Wood team and other stakeholders to explore potential enhancements to PRiSM, although there are currently no active changes currently underway.

Digital Planning

Sakina Sheikh: How are you helping boroughs to move to digital planning systems which have the potential to encourage more involvement with the planning system?

The Mayor: The GLA has been responding to the digital planning agenda in a range of ways and we are keen to continue to work with boroughs to facilitate greater use of digital systems and platforms. This has included making more data available for Londoners via the Planning Datahub; using online tools such as Commonplace and Bang the Table for consultations on area strategies and London Plan Guidance; new live Opportunity Area monitoring webpages; and the development of Planbase through the civic innovation challenge to aid understanding of, and feedback on, development proposals. To support boroughs to build momentum in this space the GLA is also facilitating a steering group of boroughs and active innovators in this space to create a forum for the exchange of learning and best practice and for further innovation.

Minimum Space Standards

Sakina Sheikh: How many properties are you aware of in London that have not met the minimum space standards? What can be done to prevent them being built in future?

The Mayor: Policy D6 of my London Plan is clear that new dwellings must meet the minimum internal space standards as set out in Table 3.1 of the Plan. As part of the implementation of the Planning London Datahub, data is now being collected for the floorspace of all new proposed dwellings where planning permission is required and we will be reviewing the first year of data that we now have. Before this there has not been an official record of the size of new residential properties across London.
However, it must be noted that there is still a significant number of dwellings each year delivered without the need for planning permission as a result of the expansion of permitted development rights. This means not just that there will be no data available or means of monitoring compliance, but that for any conversions permitted prior to 1 April 2021, no minimum space standards will have applied.

Leaseholder mental health during the fire safety crisis (1)

Hina Bokhari: New research by the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence has found that leaseholders’ mental health has been profoundly affected by the building safety crisis, with 100% of respondents reporting anxiety, depression and in some cases suicidal thoughts. The main driver for this mental ill-health was not fear of a fire erupting, but of potential financial ruin due to the cost of cladding and other fire safety measures like waking watches. In March and May 2021 you said you were calling for Government to review the role and remit of LEASE in order to deliver specialist mental health support. What is the outcome of this?

The Mayor: I am deeply concerned about the impact that the cladding scandal is having on Londoners’ mental health and wellbeing. I have called on the government to review the services offered by the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE). Calls for a comprehensive review of LEASE have come from other parties as well, including the then Select Committee for Housing, Communities and Local Government in 2019.
LEASE has a specific fire safety service offered to residents of high-rise buildings. However, it is my understanding this does not include mental health support. I continue to call for LEASE to offer specialist mental health services to leaseholders, and for this service to not be limited to those living in high-rise buildings, as we know the building safety crisis is impacting leaseholders across the board.

ULEZ in Lambeth (1)

Marina Ahmad: How many people and businesses in Lambeth successfully applied for the ULEZ scrappage scheme?

The Mayor: As at 7 October 2021, Transport for London (TfL) has made 279 scrappage grant payments to applicants giving a postcode within the London Borough of Lambeth. 183 of those payments were made under my car and motorcycle scrappage scheme for low income and disabled Londoners and 96 under my van scrappage scheme for small businesses and charities.

Building Safety Fund

Anne Clarke: How many grants have been made from this fund to date? Please provide a breakdown since the funds began, showing the size of grant and date of grant award.

The Mayor: As at 7 December 2021, DLUHC has approved 89 grant payments from the Building Safety Fund totalling £55,658,793. This consists of £46,026,810 in pre-tender support, and £9,631,983 as the first payment of the Grant Funding Agreement.
Please see table below for a breakdown.
Grant total (£)
Date of authorisation
167,267.00
Oct 15, 2020
515,104.00
Dec 9, 2020
571,988.00
Jan 7, 2021
219,898.00
Jan 11, 2021
1,764,874.00
Jan 13, 2021
463,175.00
Jan 22, 2021
455,989.00
Jan 27, 2021
131,519.00
Feb 4, 2021
628,330.00
Feb 12, 2021
60,301.00
Feb 24, 2021
323,825.00
Feb 24, 2021
1,801,940.00
Feb 25, 2021
465,657.00
Feb 25, 2021
227,348.00
Feb 25, 2021
274,178.00
Feb 25, 2021
230,728.00
Mar 8, 2021
479,823.00
Mar 10, 2021
372,809.00
Mar 11, 2021
398,934.00
Mar 17, 2021
728,716.00
Mar 17, 2021
88,023.00
Mar 30, 2021
460,607.00
Mar 30, 2021
347,273.00
Apr 6, 2021
916,157.00
Apr 7, 2021
207,214.00
Apr 8, 2021
1,105,267.00
Apr 8, 2021
944,089.00
Apr 14, 2021
720,162.00
Apr 14, 2021
235,571.00
Apr 16, 2021
2,220,132.00
Apr 16, 2021
1,083,674.00
Apr 19, 2021
470,328.00
Apr 21, 2021
292,957.00
Apr 21, 2021
212,888.00
May 5, 2021
80,956.00
May 7, 2021
1,388,588.00
May 14, 2021
1,798,652.00
May 19, 2021
157,071.00
May 19, 2021
246,495.00
May 24, 2021
1,003,815.00
Jun 4, 2021
228,782.00
Jun 8, 2021
783,091.00
Jun 11, 2021
91,918.00
Jun 15, 2021
335,660.00
Jun 16, 2021
170,400.00
Jun 21, 2021
628,113.00
Jun 28, 2021
162,337.00
Jun 28, 2021
142,199.00
Jun 30, 2021
1,132,684.00
Jul 8, 2021
110,111.00
Jul 15, 2021
375,402.00
Jul 23, 2021
393,939.00
Jul 23, 2021
267,276.00
Jul 27, 2021
497,725.00
Jul 28, 2021
495,864.00
Jul 28, 2021
215,192.00
Jul 28, 2021
472,520.00
Jul 28, 2021
425,443.00
Jul 28, 2021
100,000.00
Aug 4, 2021
311,927.00
Aug 10, 2021
314,659.00
Aug 11, 2021
279,364.00
Aug 12, 2021
1,427,461.00
Aug 17, 2021
889,482.00
Aug 24, 2021
606,617.00
Aug 24, 2021
4,613,623.00
Aug 24, 2021
2,369,705.00
Sep 15, 2021
558,041.00
Sep 15, 2021
288,281.00
Sep 20, 2021
154,202.00
Sep 20, 2021
1,051,044.00
Sep 23, 2021
224,842.00
Sep 23, 2021
159,707.00
Sep 24, 2021
1,335,694.00
Sep 24, 2021
655,880.00
Sep 29, 2021
308,483.00
Sep 30, 2021
1,458,594.00
Sep 30, 2021
195,232.00
Oct 7, 2021
407,506.00
Oct 11, 2021
1,018,784.00
Oct 12, 2021
200,867.00
Oct 19, 2021
239,337.00
Oct 25, 2021
513,355.00
Oct 25, 2021
593,917.00
Oct 25, 2021
691,702.00
Oct 28, 2021
164,345.00
Nov 12, 2021
439,053.00
Nov 16, 2021
1,320,246.00
Nov 24, 2021
1,575,865.00
Nov 30, 2021

London Victims’ Commissioner (1)

Susan Hall: How many victims have been helped by the London Victims’ Commissioner?

The Mayor: London’s Victims’ Commissioner and her dedicated team have helped an immeasurable number of victims through their work, both directly and indirectly.

Kerslake Review

Tony Devenish: Will you commit to hold a day long event at the new City Hall with stakeholders from right across the development sector to launch the findings of the very urgent Kerslake Review?

The Mayor: Lord Kerslake will submit his findings from the review before the end of this year. My team and I will then consider his recommendations and the implications for the GLA Group, and its approach to housing delivery. I have committed to publishing the Kerslake Review in early 2022, alongside my full response. My Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development and I look forward to discussing the findings with the Assembly.
I will work collaboratively with the GLA Group bodies recognising our collective opportunity to take steps to address the findings of the Review. I look forward to engaging with both the GLA Group and the wider development sector to deliver any opportunities identified by Lord Kerslake.

Community Concerns with Developments

Sakina Sheikh: What steps are you taking to ease some of the concerns that communities have when there is a development in their area? What more could you do to engage them?

The Mayor: I am keen to ensure that a more representative range of voices help to shape London. As set out in my London Plan, to achieve that communities need to be engaged early and constructively in the planning process. This applies to both plan-making and policy development, as well as the development of specific schemes, as by the time a planning application is made, many of the principles of development have already been established.
Much of the responsibility for engagement rests with Local Planning Authorities and developers, but the GLA has also been working to increase community engagement in relation to our planning activities. This includes using new engagement tools for Opportunity Areas and London Plan Guidance and making more data available to help inform Londoners. We are also exploring how we can support people to better understand and engage with the planning process, with its constraints and opportunities.
This needs to be a collective effort across the GLA, boroughs and applicants and focus on not just on those communities that already tend to engage, but also the many other Londoners that have not previously been involved with the planning process.

Street name replacement grants

Susan Hall: How many applications have you received for the £25,000 street name replacement grants?

The Mayor: My Untold Stories fund offers support to community-led organisations so they can celebrate the histories and experiences of Londoners from diverse backgrounds which may have gone untold and are not represented within our public realm. The fund is not dedicated to renaming streets, which remains the responsibility of local authorities, and requires community consultation. Grants will range from £1,000 to £25,000.

New charter for service charges

Siân Berry: Thank you for your answer to my question 2021/4450. Could you tell me: a) when your new charter for service charges will be published, b) whether it will be consulted on, and c) whether it will be in addition to the Shared Ownership Charter for Service Charges that already exists, and which is being updated and expected for publication in December 2021?

The Mayor: The new Service Charges Charter has recently been published on london.gov. My housing team consulted informally but extensively with leaseholders, housing providers and other stakeholders, including workshops and meetings in summer 2021, and a subsequent period for comments on a draft version.
The published Service Charges Charter replaces the Shared Ownership Charter for Service Charges and provides additional detail on the principles of ensuring transparency on service charges, and a new section outlining expectations on challenge and redress.
All housing providers receiving funding through the new Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26 are expected to sign up. I am also encouraging all Registered Providers directly involved in the development and management of Shared Ownership homes in London as well as private developers of leasehold homes to sign up and apply the Charter’s principles across their properties.

Accessibility of LGBTQ+ nightlife venues in London (1)

Hina Bokhari: How many of the LGBTQ+ nightlife venues which have signed up to the LGBTQ+ Venues Charter are fully accessible to people with mobility issues? Please list them.

The Mayor: The GLA doesn’t hold data on which venues signed up to the LGBTQ+ Venues Charter are fully accessible to people with mobility issues.

Fraud and cybercrime 1

Tony Devenish: Do you consider the 350 police officers and staff allocated to fraud and cybercrime to be enough?

The Mayor: The deployment of operational resources is the responsibility of the Commissioner.
It should be noted that there is a much wider capacity than just the posts dedicated to specialist teams progressing fraud and cybercrime investigations.
Front Line Policing Teams provide a response twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to the initial investigation of such allegations; prioritising those reports identified as presenting the highest harm and highest risk to the most vulnerable victims.
Fraud and cybercrime can be extremely complex. As such I would welcome greater national co-operation to ensure it is tackled as effectively as possible.

Leaseholder mental health during the fire safety crisis (2)

Hina Bokhari: If no progress has been made by the Government towards mental health provision for leaseholders via the LEASE scheme, will you now provide a hub for London leaseholders to access support and advice, as recommended by the Fire, Resilience and Emergency Planning Committee back in March this year?

The Mayor: I agree that support must be made available to residents affected by the building safety crisis. I maintain that the GLA is not the right organisation to provide the specialist advice or mental health support leaseholders need. LEASE is better placed to offer and coordinate mental health services for leaseholders, not least because it is an advisory body that has access to a network of organisations offering support to leaseholders. It is also a national rather than a regional body, and the building safety crisis is a national crisis. However, I call on LEASE to review its role in providing these services.
I will also continue to advocate for government to address the systemic causes underpinning the building safety crisis, including the provision of remediation funding for buildings under 18 meters and for building safety defects beyond cladding. Lastly, I will work with partners to prevent suboptimal service to leaseholders. The EWS1 best practice guidance, to be published early next year, will aim to improve services to leaseholders in need of EWS1 forms, for instance by setting higher expectations on landlord communications. Finally, I will continue to prioritise the mental health and wellbeing of Londoners through London’s Recovery Programme.

Key Worker Housing on the NHS Estate

Sem Moema: How are you working with partners in the NHS to unlock their surplus land to construct key worker housing which would help low to middle income health workers such as nurses and carers stay in London?

The Mayor: The London Estates Delivery Unit (LEDU) continues to work with the NHS to prioritise the use of surplus land to deliver homes for staff. A recent positive example of this work is in North Central London where system partners have produced a report setting out clear expectations of staff need and requirements. This work will be used as a roadmap for other NHS systems in the capital to follow and should enable delivery of appropriate staff housing going forward.
Following this approach in North Central London, supported by the LEDU and One Public Estate initiative, planning consent has been granted for 130 homes on surplus land at Finchley Memorial Hospital, all of which will be for NHS staff/healthcare workers in perpetuity (subject to a cascade clause allowing for occupation by other key workers).
The GLA recently published a list of key worker occupations, based on occupations that are considered essential to the functioning of London in normal times, and this will help to steer the allocation of intermediate housing in London. As detailed in the GLA's Intermediate Housing Consultation Response Report in March 2021, I support public sector organisations to provide new homes for staff and other key workers on their land. Using my powers to direct development through land acquisition, my housing team continues to ensure that GLA funding supports new homes for key workers at St Ann’s Hospital in Haringey.

Demolition and embodied carbon

Siân Berry: Could you provide data on the total number of buildings demolished, total number of tonnes of demolition material and the amount of embodied carbon released as a result of development projects in London since 2012?

The Mayor: We do not have data on the number of buildings demolished as part of development projects since 2012, the tonnage of demolition material or associated carbon emissions. My London Plan has made an important step in tackling carbon emissions as well as the lack of information about these by requiring proposals referred to me to calculate and reduce whole lifecycle carbon emissions and demonstrate what actions are being taken in relation to this. This is further supported by the requirement to submit a Circular Economy Statement to show how proposals target net-zero waste and detail how materials have been reused or recycled.

Housing Costs: Service Charges (3)

Sem Moema: How many tenants, shared owners and leaseholders in London are struggling to keep up with their service charges? Please exclude fire safety related charges.

The Mayor: The GLA does not collect data on service charge arrears.
I am aware, however, that for many Londoners service charges can be a significant part of their housing costs and it is vital that housing providers maintain their service charges at an affordable level so that homes remain affordable overall.
This is why my new Service Charges Charter includes requirements for providers to set charges at a realistic level, to keep these under review to avoid escalating costs, and to have a published policy for leaseholders experiencing financial hardship.
For homes funded through my Affordable Homes Programmes, the Capital Funding Guide includes requirements for service charges in relation to setting overall housing costs (4.1.147) and service charges administration including sinking funds (4.1.159-172).

Alton Estate Regeneration

Leonie Cooper: Has there been any recent contact from Wandsworth Council with the City Hall Planning Team concerning the Alton Estate Regeneration?

The Mayor: Wandsworth Council have recently responded to the GLA regarding affordable housing and viability matters. The GLA is currently considering this and we are yet to receive a stage 2 referral.

Re-naming Plantation Pier

Leonie Cooper: Do you agree with me and local Battersea MP Marsha de Cordova that it is now overdue for Plantation Pier to be renamed and what can TfL do to encourage the owners to rename the pier?

The Mayor: Yes, I agree that it is long overdue that Plantation Pier be renamed. This is a private development and not something Transport for London can directly change, but I am glad that the developer is consulting with the leaseholders and stakeholders to review it.
Changes to public spaces are governed by local planning permissions. This case demonstrates that there is a clear role for the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm. It is developing guidance for how our current public realm can better represent our communities and consider wider historical narratives, and what process should take place when a situation like this one emerges.

Cycleway 9 (5)

Tony Devenish: Please also quantify the expected delays to general traffic caused by C9.

The Mayor: The expected impacts on general traffic journey times for Cycleway 9 were published during the 2017 and 2019 public consultations. The impacts can vary depending on the route, direction, and time of day.
Across the entire Cycleway 9 route from Ealing Road to Holland Park, eastbound traffic in the morning peak is expected to have a journey time decrease of between 5-10 minutes whereas the westbound traffic in the morning peak between Holland Road and Ealing Road is expected to have a journey time increase of up to five minutes.
The consultation material outlines other routes. Please contact Transport for London if you would like to receive this information.

Unoccupied completed developments in the Royal Docks area (1)

Susan Hall: Are you able to undertake an audit of developments in the Royal Docks area, given the reports from residents of large numbers of unoccupied completed developments in the area?

The Mayor: The Royal Docks is London’s only Enterprise Zone and is part of one of the Opportunity Areas outlined in the London Plan. There are a large number of different developments in the Royal Docks area, on GLA land and on private land, and of a variety of different uses. Information and feedback from developers indicates continued strong demand for new residential developments. Three large residential development projects are currently under construction with capacity for over 1,000 homes with further starts forecast next year. There are no current proposals to undertake audits of all developments in the area. The Deputy Mayor for Housing & Residential Development is a member of the Programme Board for the Enterprise Zone, which receives reports on progress and development.

London’s Police Stations (2)

Caroline Pidgeon: What assessment has MOPAC made on the impact the significant reduction in community police stations we’ve seen over the last ten years has had on safety, and the perception of safety in communities across London?

The Mayor: Government cuts meant that the Met was required to make savings in excess of £1bn since 2012-13, leaving officer numbers lower than 30,000 at the end of 2017/18 for the first time since 2003. Numbers didn’t rise back up past 30,000 until two years later. Vital services addressing the root causes of crime – education, health, social care – were facing similar cuts. At the same time, violent crime in the capital and across the country had been rising for two years when I became Mayor.
The difficult decision to sell any police station had to be made in order to protect officer numbers as much as possible and to prioritise tackling violence. It is right that the frontline is being prioritised over buildings that are no longer needed.
At the time of the Public Access Strategy (PAS) in 2017 an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) was carried out which recognised that some groups may have an increased concern or level of anxiety regarding safety where a front counter may be closed. Actions to mitigate these concerns were put in place. The EIA is available at Public Access Strategy | London City Hall
Emergency response and patrols usually only use the response base at the beginning and the end of their shift, and normally respond to incidents either from the location of the previous incident they attended or while patrolling in a directed patrol zone.
Today, there is a 24-hour police front counter in each borough which will remain in place. This is alongside telephone contact centres, a new website, social media and a strengthened dedicated police team in every ward in the city to ensure Londoners have a wide range of options for contacting their police. I can confirm that Dedicated Ward Officers are located at sites which allow them to travel to their ward within a 20-minute journey time.
Thanks to the record levels of City Hall investment into policing under my administration and the Government’s officer uplift, officer numbers are going back up again.

Proposed Development by the City of London Corporation on Land at Sydenham Hill Estate, Sydenham Hill (4)

Caroline Pidgeon: Given your ambition to reach net zero by 2030 are you satisfied to see use of gas boilers in this GLA funded project, which is unlikely to be opened before late 2022?

The Mayor: City of London Corporation has confirmed that the Sydenham Hill Estate housing scheme will be installing heat pumps, rather than gas boilers.
I do not have powers to ban gas boilers, and other gas-based solutions, outright. However, the London Plan is facilitating the necessary shift away from gas-based solutions towards low carbon heating solutions such as heat pumps and heat network connections. We are already starting to see that shift in practice. In 2020, just over 10,000 residential units approved as part of referable planning applications are expected to be served by heat pumps, a huge increase compared to the 2,200 units in 2019. We expect the proportion of new build developments served by heat pumps to continue to rise as more developments are approved under the new policy.

Delays in Processing Digital Forensics

Caroline Pidgeon: There are still serious concerns over the length of time phones and other electronic devices are kept for gathering digital evidence by the police. What progress has been made on the roll out of improved digital forensic kiosks, and mobile units and can you provide clear timescales for their introduction?

The Mayor: We are making significant investments in technology and in technicians to improve the situation. The Met are introducing over the next few months more fixed site and mobile kiosks, and this is being supported by the recruitment of Digital Media Assistants who work alongside and support front line officers. Over the next 18 to 24 months the number of digital hubs, providing more specialist equipment and staff, will increase from 8 to 12. The Commissioner recently announced the investment of £11m to support this work.

Social and Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund

Anne Clarke: How many grants have been made from these funds to date? Please provide a breakdown since the funds began, showing the size of grant; social or private residential; and month of grant award.

The Mayor: As of 07 December 2021, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has approved £151 million of funding for the remediation of buildings in London through the Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund. 147 payments from the Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund have been authorised. In total, £44,041,041 has been paid out to date. It should be noted that most buildings under this programme follow a monthly payment structure.
As of 07 December 2021, DLUHC has allocated £217 million for the remediation of buildings in London through the Social Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund. 82 payments have been authorised. In total, £118,499,397 has been paid out to date. It should be noted that grant is paid in two tranches for this programme – 80 per cent at start on site and 20 per cent at practical completion.
Please see the tables below for more information.
Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund
Date of authorisation
Grant total
Feb 3, 2020
49,496.00
Apr 14, 2020
200,631.00
Apr 16, 2020
25,104.00
May 22, 2020
211,821.00
Jun 24, 2020
60,000.00
Jul 1, 2020
409,384.00
Jul 3, 2020
12,563.00
Jul 3, 2020
209,382.00
Jul 16, 2020
160,000.00
Jul 20, 2020
19,000.00
Jul 27, 2020
274,822.00
Aug 26, 2020
202,574.00
Sep 15, 2020
141,400.00
Sep 28, 2020
194,841.00
Oct 27, 2020
87,973.00
Oct 28, 2020
313,654.00
Nov 11, 2020
606,704.00
Nov 11, 2020
429,000.00
Nov 27, 2020
154,978.00
Dec 11, 2020
140,530.00
Dec 17, 2020
429,780.00
Dec 21, 2020
119,920.00
Dec 23, 2020
393,143.00
Jan 6, 2021
400,000.00
Jan 6, 2021
773,872.00
Jan 7, 2021
78,004.00
Jan 19, 2021
48,717.00
Jan 20, 2021
569,928.00
Feb 2, 2021
76,721.00
Feb 5, 2021
16,645.00
Feb 10, 2021
42,364.00
Feb 11, 2021
50,122.00
Feb 11, 2021
296,996.00
Feb 12, 2021
104,911.00
Feb 18, 2021
491,348.00
Feb 18, 2021
181,811.00
Feb 23, 2021
71,731.00
Feb 25, 2021
128,737.00
Mar 2, 2021
28,061.00
Mar 19, 2021
119,802.00
Mar 19, 2021
229,933.00
Mar 19, 2021
110,557.00
Mar 23, 2021
113,315.00
Mar 24, 2021
57,718.00
Mar 26, 2021
486,220.00
Mar 30, 2021
408,133.00
Mar 30, 2021
411,243.00
Apr 9, 2021
238,772.00
Apr 21, 2021
87,823.00
Apr 22, 2021
524,280.00
Apr 26, 2021
49,061.00
Apr 28, 2021
37,477.00
Apr 29, 2021
147,108.00
May 5, 2021
195,903.00
May 6, 2021
171,394.00
May 6, 2021
57,800.00
May 10, 2021
439,000.00
May 12, 2021
160,957.00
May 14, 2021
3,054,706.00
May 20, 2021
234,719.00
May 20, 2021
640,155.00
May 20, 2021
45,100.00
May 21, 2021
270,742.00
May 24, 2021
55,400.00
May 26, 2021
160,189.00
Jun 3, 2021
109,596.00
Jun 3, 2021
29,142.00
Jun 3, 2021
151,808.00
Jun 8, 2021
104,057.00
Jun 10, 2021
242,312.00
Jun 10, 2021
217,896.00
Jun 15, 2021
214,509.00
Jun 15, 2021
540,752.00
Jun 17, 2021
187,336.00
Jun 21, 2021
184,050.00
Jun 21, 2021
88,000.00
Jun 23, 2021
971,835.00
Jun 23, 2021
36,540.00
Jun 23, 2021
295,500.00
Jun 23, 2021
189,704.00
Jun 23, 2021
280,000.00
Jun 25, 2021
103,889.00
Jul 8, 2021
173,869.00
Jul 8, 2021
29,443.00
Jul 14, 2021
156,612.00
Jul 19, 2021
250,560.00
Jul 21, 2021
557,934.00
Jul 21, 2021
112,461.00
Jul 21, 2021
99,144.00
Jul 21, 2021
104,251.00
Jul 21, 2021
301,750.00
Jul 21, 2021
51,411.00
Jul 21, 2021
74,093.00
Jul 21, 2021
52,045.00
Jul 21, 2021
47,339.00
Jul 22, 2021
200,939.00
Jul 22, 2021
76,445.00
Jul 23, 2021
268,384.00
Jul 23, 2021
225,152.00
Jul 29, 2021
98,336.00
Aug 2, 2021
157,345.00
Aug 9, 2021
39,042.00
Aug 9, 2021
118,254.00
Aug 19, 2021
44,340.00
Aug 20, 2021
1,478,152.00
Aug 20, 2021
504,627.00
Aug 24, 2021
625,538.00
Aug 24, 2021
1,007,969.00
Aug 26, 2021
104,896.00
Aug 27, 2021
316,107.00
Sep 3, 2021
53,697.00
Sep 7, 2021
103,114.00
Sep 8, 2021
79,367.00
Sep 10, 2021
348,000.00
Sep 15, 2021
118,574.00
Sep 15, 2021
326,796.00
Sep 17, 2021
28,035.00
Sep 17, 2021
631,964.00
Sep 24, 2021
496,415.00
Sep 27, 2021
372,572.00
Sep 27, 2021
59,827.00
Sep 27, 2021
538,554.00
Sep 27, 2021
65,955.00
Oct 12, 2021
1,425,239.00
Oct 12, 2021
598,835.00
Oct 13, 2021
457,867.00
Oct 13, 2021
33,954.00
Oct 13, 2021
90,905.00
Oct 14, 2021
231,154.00
Oct 26, 2021
292,717.00
Oct 26, 2021
473,140.00
Oct 28, 2021
98,446.00
Oct 29, 2021
296,609.00
Nov 2, 2021
3,726,434.00
Nov 8, 2021
66,911.00
Nov 11, 2021
893,811.00
Nov 17, 2021
55,221.00
Nov 18, 2021
140,578.00
Nov 23, 2021
245,888.00
Nov 25, 2021
226,637.00
Nov 25, 2021
1,097,986.00
Nov 30, 2021
48,340.00
Nov 30, 2021
45,442.00
Dec 2, 2021
135,254.00
Dec 3, 2021
363,071.00
Dec 7, 2021
1,759,156.00
Dec 7, 2021
77,037.00
Total
44,041,041.00
Social Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund
Date of authorisation
Grant total
29/01/2019
277,842.00
08/02/2019
1,967,170.00
14/02/2019
7,610,557.00
14/02/2019
5,556,092.00
25/02/2019
1,265,600.00
15/03/2019
1,533,820.00
15/03/2019
663,718.00
15/03/2019
663,718.00
18/03/2019
13,091,657.00
28/03/2019
1,794,918.00
28/03/2019
324,543.00
29/03/2019
633,606.00
10/05/2019
276,242.00
18/04/2019
3,028,886.00
29/05/2019
359,650.00
08/05/2019
678,305.00
08/05/2019
513,030.00
15/05/2019
785,957.00
07/06/2019
1,841,562.00
20/12/2019
844,872.00
19/12/2019
1,124,949.00
18/12/2019
4,847,856.00
13/12/2019
89,912.00
27/11/2019
826,553.00
12/11/2019
2,046,413.00
07/11/2019
242,894.00
01/11/2019
332,181.00
01/11/2019
332,181.00
29/10/2019
8,985,065.00
16/10/2019
332,181.00
16/10/2019
1,328,722.00
15/10/2019
1,328,722.00
15/10/2019
1,328,722.00
09/10/2019
141,837.00
04/10/2019
2,399,994.00
04/10/2019
2,399,994.00
04/10/2019
2,399,993.00
01/10/2019
388,993.00
11/03/2020
266,266.00
06/03/2020
4,740,146.00
05/03/2020
826,553.00
05/02/2020
837,066.00
05/02/2020
826,553.00
23/01/2020
505,514.00
23/01/2020
730,991.00
23/01/2020
128,258.00
14/08/2019
1,944,327.00
05/07/2019
2,619,090.00
05/07/2019
567,350.00
18/07/2019
1,378,865.00
18/07/2019
93,584.00
19/07/2019
491,793.00
23/04/2020
382,284.00
03/06/2020
85,525.00
03/06/2020
328,221.00
08/06/2020
308,583.00
30/09/2020
1,726,003.00
23/09/2020
84,634.00
08/09/2020
393,546.00
18/08/2020
987,501.00
18/08/2020
1,010,044.00
06/08/2020
10,169.00
23/07/2020
45,618.00
02/07/2020
2,294,445.00
23/12/2020
580,576.00
23/12/2020
517,709.00
16/02/2021
2,380,000.00
10/03/2021
1,002,458.00
24/03/2021
155,089.00
26/03/2021
588,396.00
26/03/2021
144,044.00
30/03/2021
3,588,224.00
30/03/2021
165,930.00
30/03/2021
383,455.00
30/03/2021
165,930.00
15/04/2021
103,440.00
28/04/2021
588,396.00
28/04/2021
144,044.00
18/06/2021
459,841.00
10/09/2021
8,657,574.00
30/09/2021
356,052.00
20/09/2021
316,403.00
Total
118,499,397.00

Waking Watch Relief Fund

Anne Clarke: How many grants have been made from this fund to date? Please provide a breakdown since the funds began, showing the size of grant and date of grant award.

The Mayor: As at 8 December 2021, 33 grant payments have been authorised from the Waking Watch Relief Fund totalling £3,405,318.
Grant amount (£)
Date of authorisation
£82,368
10/09/2021
£17,040
10/09/2021
£277,888
25/08/2021
£68,782
22/09/2021
£103,040
24/09/2021
£82,658
24/09/2021
£37,883
24/09/2021
£25,328
04/10/2021
£124,399
11/10/2021
£50,890
19/10/2021
£118,103
21/10/2021
£327,600
22/10/2021
£161,280
27/10/2021
£201,462
28/10/2021
£111,240
01/11/2021
£99,836
01/11/2021
£291,301
03/11/2021
£39,294
03/11/2021
£20,665
04/11/2021
£133,527
04/11/2021
£68,577
03/11/2021
£145,718
08/11/2021
£103,631
09/11/2021
£69,600
10/11/2021
£143,040
15/11/2021
£27,810
18/11/2021
£45,665
25/11/2021
£121,125
25/11/2021
£25,760
08/12/2021
£20,592
08/12/2021
£67,547
07/12/2021
£153,335
07/12/2021
£38,334
08/12/2021

Traffic light rephasing by Longridge Road at Earl’s Court Road

Caroline Pidgeon: I have been made aware of yet another recent casualty at the pedestrian crossing by Longridge Road on Earl’s Court Road. What action are you taking to get TfL to commit to a review of the traffic light phasing to reduce the risk of future collisions at this spot?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) review the timings of over 1,200 sets of traffic lights every year, with the explicit aim of making them safer and more convenient for people walking, cycling and travelling by bus.
This junction is a particularly complex location, with high traffic flows throughout the day. The timings are currently set up to reduce the risk of traffic collisions, with the safe green person crossing period appearing at the same time as southbound vehicle flows when speeds are at their lowest,and therefore at the safest point in the traffic signal cycle.
None-the-less, I have asked TfL to contact you to further understand the issues at this crossing and commit to reviewing the operation of this junction in the new year.

Incentive for Ethical Lettings Agents

Sem Moema: What steps can you take to incentivise lettings agents in London to be more ethical?

The Mayor: I have taken steps to incentivise letting agents in London to behave ethically by introducing my Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker, Report a Rogue Tool and Property Licence Checker.
These tools allow renters to make informed decisions about the properties they rent, whilst sending a clear message to landlords and letting agents that acting unlawfully could result in prosecution and being named publicly. This makes it harder for them to operate ‘under the radar’, helping to ensure the private rented housing market operates in a fair and more transparent way, and that tenants are protected from exploitation by rogue letting agents.
Given the limits of my powers, Londoners need the Government to act to ensure letting agents act ethically. I am also calling on government to introduce a light-touch, mandatory landlord register, alongside greater regulation for letting agents.

Impact of Moving Frequently Home on Londoner’s Health

Sem Moema: Has there been any assessment of the impact of frequently moving home on the health of Londoners?

The Mayor: I am very concerned that frequently moving home has a serious impact on the health of Londoners. Frequent moves are associated with poorer health outcomes and housing insecurity negatively affects both educational development in children and mental health.
Private renters in London are more likely to have moved home frequently than any other tenure. On average, private renters have lived at their current address for four years, while in the social rented sector the average is 12 years, and the owner-occupier average is 18 years. However, as standard tenancy lengths are just six to 12 months, they have little guarantee of security or stability.
This is why I am calling on the government to urgently make good on their promise to increase security in the private rented sector, including by ending Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, and publish the delayed White Paper on renter’s reforms as soon as possible.

Impact on Communities of High Renter Turnover

Sem Moema: Has there been any assessment of the impact to London communities of having a high turnover of private renters?

The Mayor: The GLA does not collect data on the level of churn within the private rented sector or the impact of this on tenants. However, there is certainly the potential that a high turnover of renters might weaken relationships, and reduce the investment of renters, in their local communities. This might also make care and support relationships more difficult to establish and maintain.
Renters urgently need more choice about how long they live in their private rented property. Government must invest in more genuinely affordable homes and urgently overhaul private renting, by repealing Section 21, introducing open-ended tenancies and devolving powers to implement a system of rent control in London, as called for in my blueprint for reforming private renting.

Private Rented Sector and Life Chances

Sem Moema: What impact is living in the Private Rented Sector having on the life chances of young Londoners?

The Mayor: I am deeply concerned about the impact of insecure housing and unaffordable rents - which continue to rise - on young Londoners living in the private rented sector. The precarity, poor standards and conditions that private renters often face negatively impact educational development in children and both health and employment outcomes, ultimately contributing to poorer life chances and poverty.
Young people are the lifeblood and future of our city and deserve to thrive in safe and secure homes without the spectre of a rent increase or no-fault eviction hanging over them. Government must invest in more genuinely affordable homes and urgently overhaul private renting, by repealing Section 21, introducing open-ended tenancies and devolving powers to implement a system of rent control in London, as called for in my Blueprint for reforming private renting.

Cycleway 9 (8)

Tony Devenish: As the experimental temporary lane put round the Hammersmith Gyratory was consistently empty and as TfL is well aware that it caused congestion, why was the result of that experiment seemingly ignored? In answering, please provide a copy of the internal report produced on the effectiveness and impact of that temporary cycle lane. In addition, please provide a copy of the internal document justifying this “temporary” project, which was signed off prior to its approval.

The Mayor: In May 2020, Hammersmith and Fulham Council (as the highway authority with control over the roads in question) introduced a temporary protected cycle lane around Hammersmith Gyratory as an emergency response to the pandemic and to address a well-known casualty hotspot for cycling on Cycleway 9. The temporary cycle track was located on the inside of the gyratory, which made it quick and easy to introduce, but sometimes difficult for cyclists to access because of the need to cross three lanes of traffic. However, the temporary cycle lanes provided a safe cycling facility as London was dealing with the worst of the pandemic
When the coronavirus lockdown restrictions were lifted, Transport for London’s monitoring data, which was shared with borough colleagues, showed that bus journey times increased. Transport for London and Hammersmith and Fulham Council had, informed by this monitoring of the temporary scheme, been working together on developing proposals to upgrade the temporary cycle lanes around the gyratory and provide a vital link between King Street and Hammersmith Road. As a result, in July 2021, Hammersmith and Fulham Council approved an experimental scheme to deliver a two-way protected cycle lane on the north side of the gyratory. At the same time, the council decided to remove the temporary protected cycle tracks to start construction on King Street. Cycle counts on Hammersmith Gyratory this October showed over 2,800 people cycled in one day.

Feeder Lane to A4 from A3220

Caroline Pidgeon: I have been informed that there was recently a Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) application for a development at Cluny Mews with an entrance 10 metres from the feeder lane from the A3220 to the A4. It has been reported that the contractors frequently flout the conditions and the CTMP, resulting in fatalities and injuries to pedestrians and cyclists. With the widening of the pavement, the traffic flow is also routinely reduced to one lane. Given these changes, will you conduct a review of the roads and junctions at this section? Please also provide a timeline when this review will take place.

The Mayor: Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed that, as part of the Construction Traffic Management Plan review, it became clear that a widening of the Cluny Mews entrance would be required to enable construction traffic to track safely into the site from the nearside lane of Warwick Road. The developer is aware of the need to make these amendments and currently the changes are still pending.
It has become apparent following further site observations that the developers have started to bring construction traffic into site via this access point in the absence of these changes, which is unacceptable. TfL is engaging urgently with the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and the developer to rectify this situation as swiftly as possible.

Length of time in Private Rented Sector Data

Sem Moema: Is the GLA able to collect data on how long Londoners have been in the Private Rented Sector? Is it possible to track this over time?

The Mayor: The GLA does not collect data on how long Londoners have been in the private rented sector.
This is collected via the government’s English Housing Survey. Analysis of pooled 2016/17 to 2018/19 English Housing Survey data shows that the median private renting household in London has spent more than five years but less than ten in the tenure. Twenty per cent of private renting households have spent between ten and twenty years in the tenure.
This question was first asked in 2015/16, too recently to be able to track changes over time.

Driving for Change

Onkar Sahota: Can you provide an update on the recent commencement of the Driving for Change and Vaccination for Homeless Londoners initiative?

The Mayor: Change Please have informed City Hall’s Rough Sleeping team that they have now come to an agreement with the City of London and the London Borough of Hackney to commence delivering healthcare services to people sleeping rough in these areas through their Driving for Change project. This arrangement does not include the direct administration of vaccinations, but the service will transport people to locations where vaccinations are available. Change Please have started discussions with other boroughs around the possibility of the project working elsewhere, with the agreement of the local council. Officers in my Rough Sleeping team have been making introductions to the relevant personnel in these areas where needed.

Affordable Housing for Key Workers

Sem Moema: Could you update me on current list of proposed key worker occupations eligible for your intermediate tenure of housing?

The Mayor: I recently published my housing policy practice note on allocating intermediate homes to London’s key workers, available at https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/housing-and-land/buying-home/intermediate-homes-london

Estate ballot process review (6)

Siân Berry: Thank you for your answers to my questions 2021/4088 and 2021/4089, in which you refer to paragraphs 8.5.2 to 8.5.17 of your resident ballot requirement, the GLA checklist and the two notes you have published to assist your housing team with implementing your resident ballot requirement. Since none of these require any support for residents to promote alternative views or restrict the expenses and resources landlords can use, will you: a) review your guidance to ensure a more level playing field, and b) consider providing funding support to residents’ groups in future?

The Mayor: It is appropriate that prior to a ballot and as part of ongoing consultation, landlords engage with residents to understand, discuss and feedback on regeneration plans and the landlord offer. GLA funding is not available for either landlords or residents developing plans, running campaigns or conducting ballots. Restricting the resources landlords can use is not something that I consider would contribute to the quality and reach of resident engagement. I do not have any plans to review my approach to either provide funding for such activities or conversely to advise against them.
Better Homes for Local People, my good practice guide to estate regeneration, makes clear that landlords should: ‘...provide independent capacity-building and advocacy support for residents if they request it’, and pay for independent tenant and leaseholder advisors selected by residents.

Air Quality Monitoring and Remediation Works (1)

Krupesh Hirani: My constituents have raised concerns about the impact of cladding remediation works at their building on their physical health. Have air quality monitors in London close to remediation works picked up any changes to air quality whilst works are ongoing?

The Mayor: Building owners and in particular their contractors are responsible for assessing the risks to residents associated with the cladding remediation works and this is detailed in the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. Residents should contact the building owner if they are concerned about air quality during the remediation.
Any changes in pollution levels measured by air quality monitoring stations in the London network, that may be near cladding construction sites, could not be directly attributed to the cladding works as there are many factors that influence pollution concentrations such as the weather and any other pollution sources nearby.

Air Quality Monitoring and Remediation Works (4)

Krupesh Hirani: How are you working with London’s councils and the remediation industry to ensure that remediation works do not impact negatively on air quality?

The Mayor: My Control of Dust and Emissions during Construction and Demolition Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) provides guidance for boroughs on a range of policies that deal with environmental sustainability, health and mitigating the impacts of construction. The SPG requires developers to carry out air quality (dust) risk assessments to identify the level of risk due to the scale of dust emissions on health together with recommendations for monitoring, minimising and mitigating air quality impacts from construction.

Air Quality Monitoring and Remediation Works (3)

Krupesh Hirani: How can the work of the air quality monitoring network in London include monitoring of changes in air quality in areas where cladding remediation work is taking place?

The Mayor: The air quality monitors used in the London Air Quality Network are not suitable to install at temporary construction sites due to the complexities in installing them and the high installation and maintenance costs that would be incurred by the boroughs.
My Control of Dust and Emissions during Construction and Demolition Supplementary Planning Guidance requires contractors to install dust monitors on construction sites to monitor air quality. The guidance recommends ‘trigger levels’ where action should be taken such as work stopping and ensuring best practice measures are in place if the monitor records pollution concentrations exceeding the trigger level.

Hyde Park Cycle Lane

Tony Devenish: How many cyclists use the Hyde Park Cycle Lane on a daily basis?

The Mayor: Cycle flows within Hyde Park are monitored at a location known as Broad Walk. This has historically been very busy with both cyclists and pedestrians, leading to high levels of conflict. It is also not available to use for people cycling 24/7 because Hyde Park shuts at night.
Between September 2020 and September 2021, the number of cyclists counted on the Broad Walk within Hyde Park dropped from 6,017 to 4,479, with more cyclists using the new cycle lane on Park Lane instead.
Intercept surveys with users on the new Park Lane cycle route found they were using it because it was quicker, safer and more comfortable than the Broad Walk in Hyde Park, and they did not have to cycle around people walking.

London Plan Key Performance Indicators

Andrew Boff: London Plan Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to be updated on the GLA website on a regular basis, but the last update was 2018/19. When will regular updates be resumed of this important information?

The Mayor: I have just published, for consultation, a draft monitoring framework for my new London Plan 2021. This will provide an opportunity for people to comment on the proposed Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) structure, including additional information to complement the KPIs already set out in Chapter 12 of the London Plan. The consultation will run from mid-December 2021 to the end of January 2022. Once approved, this framework will be used for future AMRs from 2021/22 onwards. As far as possible the new KPIs will be monitored ‘live’ through the London Planning Datahub. This will mean that the data is accessible in almost real time. Work is currently underway on the development of this.
The AMR for 2019/20 will be published on the GLA website early next year, with the AMR for 2020/21 to follow shortly after that.

London Plan Annual Monitoring Report (2)

Andrew Boff: London Plan Annual Monitoring Reports (AMRs) used to cover the previous financial year. This time lag has now been extended to two years in the latest AMR. When will this be rectified?

The Mayor: With the move to the new London Plan and associated KPIs as well as increased availability of data through the Planning London Datahub, we are updating our reporting mechanisms. This will enable, during next year, monthly reporting of performance against as many of the KPIs as possible, as well as an annual review in a more concise Annual Monitoring Report.
While there has been a lag with the AMR itself, I have ensured that all of the data that is available is regularly updated – and the most recent datasets have been made available to view by KPI here.

London Plan Annual Monitoring Report (1)

Andrew Boff: The most recent London Plan Annual Monitoring Report covers the year 2018/19. When will you be publishing reports for 2019/20 and 2020/21?

The Mayor: The AMR for 2019/20 is currently in the final stages of drafting and review and will be published early in the new year. The 2020/21 AMR is currently in preparation. While there is a time lag for the reports themselves, all available data and the most recent datasets we have are accessible here to Londoners.

Subletting Policies for Shared Owners in London

Hina Bokhari: Will you urgently review GLA policy on subletting for shared owners and listen to the concerns of shared owners caught up in the building safety crisis, working to amend shared ownership policies more widely where achievable to support them?

The Mayor: I am committed to helping shared owners caught up in the building safety crisis. My Executive Director of Housing and Land wrote to GLA investment partners in July providing additional clarity and guidance on GLA policy on sub-letting for shared owners. This encouraged partners to take into account leaseholder impacts and circumstances when considering subletting approval, and ensure that fixed terms for subletting are specified and that tenants are property notified.
This month I have also updated my Capital Funding Guide to make clear that exceptional circumstances, in which investment partners may agree sub-letting arrangements, may include building safety challenges.
While sub-letting may provide some shared owners some temporary relief, I have consistently called on the government to fully protect leaseholders from having to cover the cost of remediation – an urgent issue that is not addressed by changes to sub-letting restrictions.

Unoccupied completed developments in the Royal Docks area (2)

Susan Hall: Given the reports from residents of large numbers of unoccupied completed developments in the Royal Docks area, would you (or else a Deputy Mayor/senior officer) agree to visit the area, in order to understand the scale of the issue?

The Mayor: The Mayor established the Royal Docks Team in 2017 to work with LB Newham on the regeneration of the Royal Docks, including across a series of GLA sites delivering much needed genuinely affordable housing for Londoners. The Deputy Mayor for Housing & Residential Development is a member of the Programme Board for the Enterprise Zone, which receives reports on progress and development. The Deputy Mayor visits the Royal Docks regularly, including for the recent “topping out” ceremony of a new development at Royal Albert Wharf. The relocation of City Hall to the Royal Docks will support the regeneration and success of the area.

Estate ballot process review (5)

Siân Berry: As part of your resident ballot requirement, are independent bodies required to submit to you details (or summary details) of complaints they have received about the conduct of ballots. If so, could you provide the total number of complaints you are aware of, and to which ballots they refer?

The Mayor: Paragraphs 8.5.3 to 8.5.5 of my Resident Ballot Requirement set out the role of independent bodies appointed to carry out ballots. This does not specifically include relaying to my team details of any complaints they have received. However, they are required to complete a compliance checklist to confirm ballots have been held in accordance with my requirement. This checklist must be signed by both housing provider and independent body in order for the provider to receive grant.

Housing Zones

Andrew Boff: Could you please provide an update on the number of homes started and completed in each of the Housing Zones, in each financial year since they were established?

The Mayor: The GLAonly records information on the direct homes delivered through the Housing Zones programme. Please note that there are other homes being delivered in the boundaries of individual zones for which information is not being collected by the GLA systems.
Our records indicate that 5,449 homes (2,188 affordable and 3,261 open market) started on site to the end of September 2021. In total 1,318 homes completed in the programme (609 affordable and 709 open market). The annual delivery of starts and completions reported on GLA systems for each housing zone is shown below.
Affordable starts and completions achieved as at end of Q2 (September 2021) and Open market starts and completions achieved as at end of Q2 (September 2021) are in the attached tables.

The Mayor: 4864a1.pdf


  4864a2.pdf

Small sites funding

Siân Berry: In the GLA: Mayor Draft Budget 2022-23, under Capital Investment there is no funding allocated to Small Sites or the Small Sites Capital Programme from 2022-23. What efforts are you making to revive small sites funding in London?

The Mayor: The LEAP funding for the Small Sites Small Builders Programme has ended and the programme is currently under review with both the Housing and Land and Good Growth Directorates considering a contribution to resource a future phase of the programme from April 2022.

Estate ballot process review (4)

Siân Berry: How many complaints in total have your office, and the office of your Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, received about the running of estate ballots since they were introduced?

The Mayor: My estate ballot policy stipulates that an independent body, appointed by the housing provider, carries out the ballot and is responsible for ensuring and verifying that the ballot is conducted using robust processes, in line with the specifics of my requirement. Complaints should be directed to the relevant independent body and the GLA does not have a formal complaints process.

Estate ballot process review (3)

Siân Berry: I recently wrote to the independent body Civica Election Services (CES) with concerns about paid canvassing in the estate ballot on the Carpenters Estate, to which CES replied: “We cannot comment on matters relating to canvassing in general as this is outside the remit of the Independent body.” Given how unfair the impact of paid canvassing could be and the influence it can have on people’s responses, and the fact that this activity would be illegal in a democratic political election, should your guidance be reviewed?

The Mayor: I do not have any current plans to review guidance on my Resident Ballot Requirement.
Landlords planning regeneration pay their staff, or pay for the services of other organisations, to engage with residents, potentially including door to door visits, prior to a vote. This ensures that landlords are able to engage with residents to understand, discuss and feedback on regeneration plans and the landlord offer.
My requirement describes the ballot as ‘a milestone in an estate regeneration process...the culmination of a period of resident consultation, engagement, and negotiation.” It would be unrealistic to expect landlords to resource this activity using volunteers.
Better Homes for Local People, my good practice guide to estate regeneration, details that landlords should: ‘...provide independent capacity-building and advocacy support for residents if they request it’, and pay for independent tenant and leaseholder advisors selected by residents.

Leaseholders on regeneration schemes

Siân Berry: Since 2012, how many leaseholders on regeneration schemes supported by GLA funding have been turned into shared owners in order to stay living in their areas? And could you provide similar figures for other schemes developed without GLA support?

The Mayor: The GLA does not hold this data.

Overcrowding in the private rented sector

Siân Berry: Given the sharp increase in overcrowding in the private rented sector in England (reported on page 79 of the November 2021 report, Housing in London 2021), are you planning any work to reduce overcrowding in London, specifically in the private rented sector?

The Mayor: My London Plan 2021 requires local authorities to provide guidance on the size of low-cost rent homes needed in their areas, to ensure that new supply better meets the requirements of overcrowded families and others in need. It also sets out a higher overall housing provision target and ambitious affordable housing policies to increase the supply of appropriate housing and reduce the pressures that lead to overcrowding.
But to significantly reduce overcrowding we need every level of government to play its part. Local authorities should encourage more homes to be built in areas where lower land values make family housing more viable, and the central government should both provide more funding for new family-sized affordable homes and ensure that the welfare system enables more families to afford a home suitable for their needs.

Accessibility of LGBTQ+ nightlife venues in London (3)

Hina Bokhari: What have you done so far to encourage and support LGBTQ+ nightlife venues across London in removing barriers to physical accessibility?

The Mayor: London’s LGBTQ+ venues provide safe spaces where people feel comfortable and free to be who they are, so we must do all we can to make sure they are accessible for all.
In January 2020, my Night Czar held a workshop for members of the LGBTQ+ Venues Forum with charity Attitude is Everything. This helped venues understand issues around accessibility and discuss what could be achieved based on their own circumstances. For example, many venues have challenges due to the nature of the buildings they are able to occupy. The workshop also highlighted other measures that venues can and should take, including adding accessibility information onto their websites. Attitude is Everything also provides ongoing resources to help venues.

Accessibility of LGBTQ+ nightlife venues in London (2)

Hina Bokhari: How many of the LGBTQ+ nightlife venues which are not currently signed up to the LGBTQ+ Venue Charter are fully accessible to people with mobility issues? Please list them.

The Mayor: The GLA doesn’t hold data on whichvenues that aren’t signed up to the LGBTQ+ Venues Charter are fully accessible to people with mobility issues.

Housing First Provision (2)

Hina Bokhari: What steps have you carried out to assess the scale of existing Housing First provision? Please also provide a breakdown of numbers by borough of unmet need for this cost-effective approach.

The Mayor: Promoting the development of targeted Housing First provision for long-term rough sleepers for whom other accommodation and support options are not appropriate is part of the workplan for the jointly-chaired City Hall/London boroughs Life Off the Streets group.
According to the latest CHAIN figures, there were 425 long term rough sleepers in London and a further 1,157 people who were not new to rough sleeping. Personalised solutions such as Housing First has the potential to play a key role in helping many of these people exit rough sleeping. So far, through the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, we have funded over 120 Housing First homes plus support.

Housing First Provision (1)

Hina Bokhari: Following MQ 2021/1378 Have you made any further representations to the Government to secure funding to expand Housing First provision across London?

The Mayor: I am pleased that the government have listened to my and partners’ concerns about short term funding, and announced a longer-term three year settlement for the Rough Sleeping Initiative. However, I am disappointed that this announcement did not include an expansion of Housing First, and no change to the government’s position that there will be no further funding for Housing First schemes until the Housing First pilots have been evaluated. I will continue to lobby for further funding.

Police foot patrols

Nicholas Rogers: For each year Dec 15 to Nov 16, Dec 16 to Nov 17, Dec 17 to Nov 18, Dec 18 to Nov 19, Dec 19 to Nov 20 and Dec 20 to Nov 21, please provide the number of days each year that there have been police foot patrols in all wards in the boroughs of Hounslow, Richmond and Kingston. Please break down by year and ward.

The Mayor: The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) do not hold this data in the format requested.

St Helier Avenue

Leonie Cooper: In light of accidents, when will the speed limit on St Helier Avenue be reduced?

The Mayor: My Vision Zero Action Plan sets out my ambition to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from London’s transport network. Lowering speeds remains one of the most important things we can do to reduce road danger. This is why I have asked Transport for London (TfL) to accelerate the roll out of lower speed limits across a further 140km of its road network by 2024, to reduce the likelihood and severity of collisions.
The criteria for identifying roads to be included in TfL’s Lowering Speed Limits programme used a risk-based approach to understand where lowering speed limits will bring most benefit. The A297 St Helier Avenue – which is currently 40mph - was not identified as a priority for speed reduction using this consistent methodology.
However, Rosehill Roundabout – a short distance to the south of St Helier - is included in programme, with a 20mph speed limit proposed for delivery by 2023/24. There will need to be a 30mph ‘buffer’ leading into the new speed limit - which could include some of St Helier Avenue, subject to design development and funding confirmation.

Estate Regeneration Ballots – Love Lane, Tottenham

Caroline Pidgeon: You have committed to a review of the policy and process around major estate regeneration ballots. What discussions are you having with residents on estates where ballots have taken place, especially estates like Love Lane in Tottenham, where worrying complaints have been made about the process and approach that has been taken?

The Mayor: As I noted in my response to MQ 2021/4088 in October, earlier this year I published two notes to assist my housing team with implementing my resident ballot requirement. These were the product of a review of the feedback received in the first three years of implementation. I have no current plans to run a further review.
In the case of the Love Lane ballot, the landlord and the independent body have confirmed that all of the ballot requirements have been met. Concerns expressed by some about the ballot process have been directed to Civica, the independent body appointed by Haringey Council to conduct the ballot. Civica has not raised any concerns with the GLA.